Can Eagles Running Back Kenneth Gainwell Step It Up Against the Lions?

It looks like it might be Kenneth Gainwell’s time in Philadelphia. The rookie fifth-round pick is heading for an uptick in playing time in Week 8, with starter Miles Sanders being carted off the field last week against the Las Vegas Raiders. Gainwell has impressed this year, and the distribution in touches between Sanders and Gainwell has been more than expected.

Head Coach Nick Sirianni has proven that the run game isn’t a big part of his plan this year, preferring to throw the ball to his running backs, which benefits Gainwell, a natural pass catcher. The NFL lines have the Eagles as three-point favorites against the winless Lions this week, and all eyes will be on the rookie running back to see if he can lead his team to victory.

Who Is Kenneth Gainwell?

Kenneth Gainwell has been impressive so far in his short time with the Philadelphia Eagles. After enjoying a nice college career at Memphis, the 5’11, 191-pound tailback was the 150th overall pick in the fifth round of this year’s draft.

He’s a dynamic pass-catcher out of the backfield, but he also can run through the tackles and handle on goal line carries, proven by his two red zone rushing TDs so far this year.

On the season, Gainwell has rushed for 120 yards on 26 carries (4.6 per attempt) and has added 19 receptions for 164 yards to go with three total TDs. Meanwhile, Detroit has given up the 10th most rushing yards this season and allowed an average of 4.1 yards per attempt. So the question isn’t whether Gainwell can have a big game, but rather whether the Eagles’ coaching staff will choose to run the ball.

Eagles vs. Lions

This week it’s a tale of two struggling squads as the 2-5 Eagles head to Motown to take on the 0-7 Detroit Lions. While expectations weren’t that high for either team this year, it’s been the Eagles that have been a little more disappointing. Philly’s run game has been non-existent, and Jalen Hurts has struggled with his accuracy so far.

Historically, these teams are evenly matched with a record of 16-16-2. They last played in 2019, with Detroit winning 27-24. So far this season, the Eagles have averaged 22.7 points per game, while the Lions have averaged just 18.3.

How To Bet the Eagles This Week

Eagles fans aren’t going to like this, but the birds might be in danger of handing the Lions their first victory of the year. This season, Detroit has shown a lot of heart with an under-talented team. They’ve taken a couple of the league’s best teams down to the wire.

Meanwhile, the Eagles can’t seem to get into a rhythm on either side of the ball. So if you want to bet the Eagles this week, I’d be more inclined to take them on the winning margin line at 1-6, which pays out +310.

The Eagles might win, but if they do, it’s likely to be a squeaker, and the winning margin bet pays out some nice odds.

Is Philly Ready To Turn Things Around?

While it may not be sunny in Philadelphia right now, it’s not all doom and gloom. Fans need to remember that QB Jalen Hurts made just his 11th start of his career last Sunday and still has the potential to be an excellent quarterback.

The Eagles’ schedule suggests there’s still hope for the season, as seven of their remaining games are against sub-500 teams. We’ll see if Kenneth Gainwell can provide a spark in his new role and help the Eagles turn things around.

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